Explore the Museum

October 27, 2017 – Lecture: History of Shops in Barnards Green by Catherine Banks and Faith Renger

November 24, 2017 – Lecture: Birth of Radar by Hugh Williams

Donations Welcome

As a charity we rely on volunteers and donations. We have teamed up with BT to enable you to give online. Click on the button below.

Upstairs Gallery

Museum Collections in the Upstairs Gallery

There are some fine collections and a number of display boards along the upstairs corridor. The window frames from the Guesten Hall take pride of place and clearly demonstrate the skills of the medieval carpenter. An early map from 1633 shows the main features in the area after Charles I gave up his rights to the Chase. Other maps provide information about the local area in the 1700s and key routes through Worcestershire.

A postcard of Edward Elgar sent in 1906

Edward Elgar is celebrated in words and pictures. He composed some of his most famous music while living in Malvern. The Pomp and Circumstance Marches, the Enigma Variations, Caractacus and the Dream of Gerontius were all, according to Elgar, inspired by our majestic hills.

Another information panel considers the work of the Malvern Conservators. It traces the growing frustration among local people over the loss of common land to wealthy landowners and quarry owners. This led to the first Act of Parliament in 1884 to protect the hills.

Another fascinating episode in Malvern’s history concerns the arrival of over 5000 American soldiers, doctors and nurses in 1944. Five hospitals were built below the hills prior to D-Day. These were used to treat thousands of casualties from the American forces engaged in liberating France.

Radar and Science Collections

Lastly, some of the museum’s scientific collections are displayed in a recreated laboratory to celebrate Malvern’s pioneering role in the development of radar. The scientist standing in this gallery represents the research developed by the Telecommunications and Radar Establishment during the Second World War. Malvern College and Pale Manor became home to over 2000 scientists. They carried out top secret work for the last 3 years of the war. Some claim that the Second World War was won on the playing fields of Malvern. Their pioneering work continues in newer fields including the silicon chip, lasers, infra-red research and satellite communications.

The Malvern Museum Society Limited is registered in England & Wales, no. 01418103. The Malvern Museum Society Ltd is a registered charity, no. 508766, and the museum is run entirely by volunteers.